Can release mechanism



A ril 21, 1970 J. c. LINDSEY ET AL CAN RELEASE MECHAN I SM Filed Oct. 14 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JAMES C. LINDSEY BY HARRY R. PAYNE flamwww m 9 Mm ATTORNEYS April 21, 1970 J, c LlNDSEY ET AL 3,507,419

CAN RELEASE MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14 1968 INVENTORS BY JAMES C- LINDSEY HARRY R- PAYNE m Wvmv ATTORNEYS April 21, 1970 c LINDSEY ET AL 3,507,419

CAN RELEASE MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 14, 19 68 INVENTORS JAMES C- LINDSEY HARRY R. PAYNE ATTORNEYS April 21, 1970 J. c. LINDSEY ET AL 3,507,419

CAN RELEASE MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Oct. 14. 1968 I l I v FIIIL M.

5 Mn M MV D E Y W mu ml- R 3 R AA J H W ATTORNEYS United States Patent O" 3,507,419 CAN RELEASE MECHANISM James C. Lindsey and Harry R. Payne, Chattanooga, Tenn., assignors to The Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 767,255 Int. Cl. B65g 59/00 US. Cl. 221--298 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Cans vertically stacked on a serpentine shelf and on straight run upper shelves are dispensed one at a time by a solenoid actuated release and retaining mechanism. A single can is dispensed for each actuation of the solenoid. A pair of spaced can retaining fingers are mounted for rotation together on an axis at right angles to the long axis of the cans in the stack of cans. The down stack finger is normally raised to elevate a pivoted can retaining plate to prevent release of a can. The up stack finger is normally out of can engaging position. When the solenoid is actuated the down stack finger lowers the can retaining plate which disengages the lowermost can in the stack and the up stack finger enters between the lowermost can and the next can so that only the lowermost can is dispensed. Upon deenergization of the solenoid spring means returns the fingers to their normal position and the next can in the stack moves against the can retaining plate for dispensing during the next cycle. The solenoid is locked against actuation should the spring means break. Bails at the lower ends of the straight run shelves prevent jamming of the cans.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to check controlled can dispensing apparatus in that the solenoid is usually energized by the deposit of a coin but, more specifically, the invention relates to article dispensing structure with mechanical release and separation of articles in which two integral transversely acting controllers or fingers and a can retaining plate release the lowermost can in the stack and block movement of the next can in the stack and the cans thereabove in the stack.

The prior art to which the invention pertains is developed and typified by US. Patents Nos. 2,280,323 to F. F. Tone of Apr. 21, 1942, 2,422,025 to H. J. Smith of May 25, 1948; 2,549,081 to C. W Hall of Apr. 17, 1951; 2,562,015 to Leo J. C. Cattanach of July 24, 1951; 2,563,204 to B. A. Andrews of Aug. 7, 1951; 2,686,583 to B. Marder of Aug. 17, 1954; 2,956,660 to R. E. I. Nordquist of Oct. 18, 1960; and 3,348,733 to E. C. Johnson of Oct. 24, 1967.

The circuitry described and claimed in US. Patent No. 3,349,881 granted to Vernon D. Camp on Oct. 31, 1967 and assigned to the assignee herein, The Seeburg Corporation, may be used with a plurality of the can release mechanisms herein for dispensing of a selected can from a plurality of stacks of cans by substituting for the motors there shown the solenoid used herein.

While the prior art shows pairs of fingers or detents simultaneously actuated by motors or solenoids to release one article by gravity from a stack and retain the remainder of the articles in the stack, these devices are usually complicated and expensive to manufacture and maintain while being subject to malfunction particularly when the mechanism is subject to cold as in refrigerated dispensers. Nor does the prior art show the can retaining plate as used herein.

3,507,419 Patented Apr. 21, 1970 It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a novel can release mechanism which is of sturdy and strong construction, simple and easy to manufacture and maintain and not subject to malfunction under rigorous conditions of use as in refrigerated can dispensers or vendors.

SUMMARY In the present invention the can release mechanism is located at the bottom of a generally vertical serpentine stack of cans with upper straight run shelves with the lowermost can in position to be released and dispensed as in the case of a coin actuated dispenser. The cans move down the stack by gravity rolling at right angles to their long axes and are therefore dispensed in the same posture and roll out to a receiver to be picked up by the purchaser. A pair of spaced fingers formed and rotating as a unit are mounted beneath the lower end of the shelf and rotate about an axis at right angles to the long axes of the cans. The fingers are spaced apart less than the diameter of a can. The floor of the shelf is cut away to permit the fingers to rotate upwardly therethrough, the down stack finger normally being in raised position to raise a pivoted can retaining plate to can retaining position and the associated up stack finger being in lowered position below the floor of the shelf. A solenoid is disposed beneath the shelf at one side thereof and on the down stack side of the down stack finger. The solenoid is provided with an armature mounted for sliding movement therein. The outer end of the armature is connected by a link to depending tabs beneath the fingers. When the solenoid is energized the armature slides therein and rotates the fingers withdrawing the down stack finger, lowering the can retaining plate and raising the upstack finger to can retaining position. The lowermost can in the stack is then dispensed. A spring returns the fingers to normal position when the solenoid is deenergized and the next can in the stack then rolls by gravity to the lowermost position in the stack against the can retaining plate raised by the down stack finger to be next dispensed. The spring is connected to the armature of the solenoid through a notched drop link which falls should the spring break and locks the solenoid against actuation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts, FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the can release mechanism of the present invention showing the same installed at the base of a serpentine stack of cans with straight run upper shelves;

FIG. 2 is a view from the right in FIG. 1 with the side plate removed down to the lowest run of the serpentine shelf and showing how the bails at the lower ends of the straight run upper shelves are offset adjacent the pivot;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, showing the can release mechanism as seen from the right in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, showing the can release mechanism as seen from the front in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view from above of the can release mechanism of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the stack for a plurality of cans has sides 10 and 11 spaced apart by curved shelf sections 12 and straight shelf sections 13 and is held together by through bolts 13', sections 12 forming in known manner a serpentine vertically disposed stack in which cans 14 are contained for rolling movement downwardly to dispensing position. Sections 12 may be cut away at 15 to reduce weight and edges 16 may be outwardly turned to add stiffness. Shelf sections 13 may comprise spaced channels to receive the ends of the cans. The lowest run of sections 12 is provided with downwardly extending surfaces 17 through which soldout switch element 18 extends. Sides 10 and 11 may have base portion 20 for mounting the stack in any suitable vendor housing.

The can release mechanism is shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. In FIG. 3 the sold-out switch element 18 is normally held in alignment with surface 17 by the weight of the cans 14 resting thereon against the action of spring 22. When the cans 14 in the stack are depleted, element 18 is raised by spring 22 closing switch 23 to light the sold-out light of the circuit of the Camp et a1. patent referred to above.

The can release mechanism has a normally upwardly extending down stack finger 24 actuating can retaining plate 19 which is pivoted at 21 parallel to the axis of rotation of the cans 14, blocking movement of the lowermost can in the stack. Spaced from finger 24 by about live-sevenths of the diameter of can 14 is up stack finger Z5 normally in lowered position beneath the surface of plate 26 which forms an extension of surface 17. Plate 26 is apertured at 27 to receive fingers 24 and and can retaining plate 19 and has downturned extensions 28 and 29. Shaft 30 extends between and is mounted in extensions 28 and 29 and extends at right angles to the long axes of the cans in the stack and parallel to the direction of movement of the cans in the stack. Fingers Z4 and 25 are preferably formed as a unit having a base 31 for rotation together on shaft 30 which shaft extends through both fingers.

Finger 24 is provided with downwardly extending extension 32 and finger 25 has downwardly extending extension 33. Crank 34 extends through extensions 32 and 33. Base plate 35 is mounted beneath plate 26. A spring 37 extends from tab 38 formed from plate 35 to notched drop link 50 having locking notch 51.

Crank 34 has crank arm 39 which is mounted for rotation in the end of armature 40 of solenoid 41. Drop link 50 is pivoted on arm 39 of the end of armature 40. Solenoid 41 is mounted on base plate 35 and is energized by the circuitry of the Camp et al. patent referred to above. Armature 40 has head 42 mounted thereon. Head 42 normally engages stop 43 mounted on portion 44 of plate 35 and also engages actuating arm 45 of timer switch 46 of the Camp et al. circuitry.

Should spring 37 break, link 50 drops and notch 51 engages under edge 52 of plate 35 and locks solenoid 41 against actuation.

As noted above, a plurality of stacks of cans each with a can release mechanism, as above-described, may be placed side-by-side in the same housing and the stacks may then hold cans of different content. The Camp et a1. circuitry is then used with the solenoids 41 replacing the vend motors and switches 46 actuated by the armatures 40 replacing the vend motor driven timer switches. Upon deposit of a coin and selection of the desired stack, solenoid 41 of that stack is energized drawing its armature 40 to the right as seen in FIG. 4 against the action of spring 37 and rotating fingers 24 and 25 in counterclockwise rotation as seen in FIG. 4. Finger 24 moves can re taining plate 19 beneath the level of plate 26 freeing the lowermost can 14 in the stack which can then rolls to dispensing position. In the meantime, finger 25 has been rotated upwardly between the lowermost can in the stack and the can next thereto preventing movement of the cans other than the lowermost can. Solenoid 41 is then deenergized and spring 37 rotates fingers 24 and 25 in clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 4 and finger 24 lifts can retaining plate 19 to normal position. Finger 25 withdraws beneath plate 26 and plate 19 is raised to can blocking position. The stack of cans then moves downwardly in the stack until the now lower-most can engages and is stopped by plate 19. Plate 19 extends over the middle body portion of the can and provides a jamproof, pilfer proof stop. The mechanism is now ready for the next vend cycle.

A plate 47 (FIG. 2) may be adjustably mounted above the can releases mechanism to prevent upward movement of the cans during actuation of the release mechanism.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, the lower end of each straight run shelf 13 is closed by a bail 52 which is pivoted at 53 and 54 to the bottom of the shelf next above. Each bail 52 is provided with off-set extensions 55 and 56 adjacent pivots 53 and 54 respectively, extending into the space between adjacent shelves so that the bails normally are disposed at an angle to the vertical rather than hanging vertically as clearly seen in FIG. 2. With vertically hanging bails the rear vertical stack and top shelf must be loaded first to prevent a jam on any or all shelves. The off-set portions of bails 52 provide a mechanical advantage so that the weight of the cans on the top shelf or rear vertical stack will overcome the weight of the cans on any or all other shelves to force the bails into their down positions after the first few cans have been dispensed.

Various modifications of the above-described preferred and illustrative embodiment of this invention may now be suggested to those skilled in the art. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims to determine the scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. Can release mechanism comprising a downwardly inclined can supporting plate, an opening in said plate, a shaft beneath said opening extending parallel to the direction of movement of the cans on said plate, a pair of spaced fingers mounted for rotation as a unit on said shaft through said opening, one of said fingers normally extending through said opening and the other of said fingers normally extending beneath said plate in said opening, a pivoted can retaining plate overlying said one of said fingers and moved into and out of can retaining position by said one of said fingers, a solenoid, an armature for said solenoid, means for connecting said armature to said fingers for rotation of said fingers, a spring resisting movement of said armature and a stop limiting the movement of said armature out of said solenoid.

2. Can release mechanism as described in claim 1, said one of said fingers moving said plate extending through the downward end of said opening, said fingers being spaced apart by about five-sevenths of the diameter of a can.

3. Can release mechanism as described in claim 1, said means including a crank mounted for rotation in said fingers and a crank arm for said crank journalled in said armature.

4. Can release mechanism as described in claim 3 including arms extending from said fingers, said crank extending for rotating through said arms.

5. Can release mechanism as described in claim 4 including a base plate mounted beneath said can supporting plate, said solenoid being mounted on said base plate, a head for said armature, said head engaging said stop and said stop being mounted on said base plate.

6. Can release mechanism as described in claim 1 including a notched drop link pivoted to said armature and connected to said spring and a base plate disposed beneath said link and engageable by the notch of said link upon breaking of said spring.

7. Can release mechanism as described in claim 1 including slanting straight run can holding shelves disposed above said inclined can supporting plate and a bail normaly closing the lower end of each of said shelves pivoted to the shelf next above and off-set extensions for said bail 5 adjacent to the pivot thereof extending into the space between adjacent shelves whereby said bail is normally disposed at an angle to the vertical.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 558,057 4/1896 Ferguson 221298 2,371,845 3/1945 Robison 221301 X 2,562,015 7/ 1951 Cattanach 221301 6 3,322,303 5/1957 Grindinger et a1. 221 298 3,348,733 10/1967 Johnson 221-298 FOREIGN PATENTS 646,381 9/1962 Italy.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 221-301 

